Connecting device for connecting a table leg to at least one frame member

ABSTRACT

Proposed is a connecting device for connecting a table leg to at least one frame member, wherein both the table leg and also the frame member are in the form of a hollow profile at least in the region adjoining the connecting device, which has a profile body; a first extension which is connected to the profile body, which is coaxial with respect to a frame member, and whose outside diameter substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the frame member; and a second extension which is connected to the profile body, which is coaxial with respect to a table leg, and whose outside diameter substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the table leg. Such a connecting device makes it possible to provide an article of table furniture which is very stable in respect of shape in spite of a lightweight structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a connecting device for connecting a table leg to at least one frame member of a table, with which it is possible to embody a light article of table furniture which at the same time is stable in respect of shape.

2. Technical Background

Usually in an article of table furniture with a tabletop, four frame members arranged at a right angle relative to each other for supporting the tabletop and four table legs which are respectively arranged in the corner regions of the tabletop between two adjoining frame members, the frame members are connected together and the table legs are connected to the frame members, by welding or screwing. In that respect, in the case of a very light article of table furniture, the problem of stability in respect of shape arises, if for example hollow profiles of aluminum are used for the frame members and the table legs. Particularly when the table is displaced and turned over on to its side, high deformation and twisting forces occur at the table legs, and such forces can easily result in damage to the article of table furniture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a connecting device for connecting a table leg to at least one frame member, which makes it possible to provide an article of table furniture which is very light but which is nonetheless stable in respect of shape.

That object is attained by a connecting device for connecting a table leg to at least one frame member, wherein both the table leg and also the frame member are in the form of a hollow profile at least in the region adjoining the connecting device, which connecting device is provided with a profile body; a first extension which is connected to the profile body, which is coaxial with respect to a frame member, and whose outside diameter substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the frame member; and a second extension which is connected to the profile body, which is coaxial with respect to a table leg and whose outside diameter substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the table leg. The first and second extensions can be inserted into the hollow profile of the frame member and the table leg respectively and fixed by means of a press fit so that the connecting device can counteract deformation or twisting forces which occur in the region of that connection and which can act in particular on the table legs. In that way all the components of the article of table furniture, which are involved, can be made from lighter materials and/or can be of a lighter construction.

In a configuration of the invention the second extension for the table leg is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the first extension for the frame member. The first and second extensions can also be formed integrally with the profile body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the connecting device further has a third extension which is also connected to the profile body, which is coaxial with respect to a further frame member and whose outside diameter substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the further frame member. By means of that third extension, it is possible for a total of two frame members and the table leg to be connected together by way of the connecting device.

In a further configuration of the invention that third extension for the further frame member is arranged substantially perpendicularly to the first extension for the frame member and to the second extension for the table leg. Preferably the third extension is a component part which is separate from the profile body and which is fixedly connected to the profile body in order to simplify manufacture of the connecting device and also assembly of an article of table furniture.

By virtue of the above-described structure of the connecting device according to the invention the connecting device can advantageously be formed substantially from a light material with a high level of stability in respect of shape such as for example magnesium or a magnesium alloy.

For further reducing weight, the second extension for the table leg can be in the form of a hollow profile.

In an embodiment of the invention the length of the second extension for the table leg corresponds to between about 15% and about 40%, preferably between about 20% and about 30%, of the length of a table leg, and the lengths of the first extension and the third extension for the frame members correspond to between about 10% and about 40%, preferably between about 15% and about 25%, of the length of a frame member.

Preferably the distal ends of the first, second and/or third extensions of a conically tapering configuration in order to facilitate inserting the extensions into the hollow profiles of the table legs and frame members respectively.

The above-described connecting device according to the invention is advantageously suitable for an article of table furniture which is light but stable in respect of shape, comprising a tabletop; four frame members arranged at a right angle to each other for carrying the tabletop; four table legs which are respectively arranged in the corner regions of the tabletop between two adjoining frame members; and four such connecting devices which respectively connect together a table leg and two adjoining frame members.

In a configuration of the invention at least two of the table legs can be provided with rollers or the like in order to be able to more easily move the article of table furniture.

In a further configuration of the invention two adjacent table legs are arranged at mutually remote sides of the article of table furniture outside the tabletop. In that way it is possible for a plurality of articles of table furniture to be stackable in a space-saving fashion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and further features and advantages of the invention will be better appreciated from the description hereinafter of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an article of table furniture according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view from below of the article of table furniture shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a side view of a stack of a plurality of articles of table furniture from FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 shows a composite array of a plurality of articles of table furniture of FIG. 1 from below,

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a connecting device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side view of the connecting device of FIG. 5 in accordance with the arrow VI in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the extension 28 for the table leg taken along section line VII-VII in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the profile body 22 taken along section line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6, and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic side view of the extension 28 of the connecting device of FIG. 5 in accordance with arrow IX in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT PREFERRED AT THE PRESENT TIME

With reference to FIGS. 1 through 9 a preferred embodiment of a connecting device for an article of table furniture will now be described without the present invention being limited to this specific embodiment. By virtue of the connecting device according to the invention, the article of table furniture can be produced in the form of a light structure and at the same time with a high level of stability in respect of shape and can therefore advantageously be used in particular as a child's or school table without being restricted to that use.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 the article of table furniture 10 is made up of a tabletop 12 for example of wood, four frame members or bars 14 arranged at a right angle to each other for carrying the tabletop 12, and four table legs 16 in the corner regions of the tabletop 12 between two adjoining frame members 14. A table leg 16 and two adjoining frame members 14 are respectively connected together by means of a connecting device 20 which is described in detail hereinafter. The tabletop is fixed for example by adhesive on the frame members 14.

While the frame members 14 have preferably a rectangular profile body, the table legs 16 can have a rectangular or also a round profile body. In order to permit use of the connecting device 20 according to the invention, the frame members 14 and the table legs 16, at least in the region adjoining the connecting device 20, are in the form of a hollow profile. For further reducing weight however the frame members 14 and the table legs 16 can also be completely in the form of hollow profiles.

In a particular embodiment of the invention two adjacent table legs 16 are arranged at mutually remote sides of the article of table furniture 10 outside the tabletop 12, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 2. For easier displacement of the article of table furniture 10 those table legs 16 can preferably be provided with rollers 18 or the like.

By virtue of the arrangement, shown in FIG. 2, of the table legs 16 under the tabletop 12, it is possible for a plurality of articles of table furniture 10 to be stacked in mutually superposed relationship in a very compact fashion, as is shown in the side view of FIG. 3. The outwardly disposed table legs 16 (at the left in FIG. 2) of an upper article of table furniture 10 in that case engage beside the tabletop 12 of a lower article of table furniture 10 so that the articles of table furniture 10 are stackable with a very slight lateral displacement relative to each other.

In spite of the table legs 16 which project laterally beyond the tabletop 12, it is possible to construct a closed continuous tabletop composite array comprising a plurality of articles of table furniture 10, as shown in FIG. 4, by the respectively adjacent articles of table furniture being set up turned relative to each other through 90° so that the laterally projecting table legs 16 of the one article of table furniture 10 project under the tabletop 12 of the other article of table furniture 10.

There now follows a detailed description of the structure of a connecting device in accordance with a preferred embodiment by way of example of the present invention, with reference to FIGS. 5 through 9.

A connecting device 20 is intended to connect together a table leg 16 and two adjoining frame members 14 of the article of table furniture 10. In order to permit the article of table furniture 10 to be of a light structure, the connecting device 20, while being of a low inherent weight, is intended at the same time to ensure stability in respect of shape of the article of table furniture 10, in particular in the connecting regions.

The connecting device 20 is made from a light material with a high level of stability in respect of shape. A suitable material for the device according to the invention is for example magnesium and alloys thereof.

As shown in the plan view of FIG. 5 the connecting device 20 has a profile body 22 whose profile substantially corresponds to the profile of the frame members 20 of the article of table furniture 10 and whose main axis is in the plane of the adjoining frame members 14. Joined to that profile body 22 are a first extension 24 for the connection of a first frame member 14, a second extension 28 for the connection of a table leg 16 and a third extension 26 for the connection of a second frame member 14, as can be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6. The first extension 24 for the first frame member 14 and the second extension 28 for the table leg 16 are preferably provided integrally with the profile body 22 while the third extension 26 for the second frame member 14 is preferably in the form of a separate component.

The extension 28 for the table leg 16 is arranged coaxially with respect to the table leg 16. The outside diameter of the extension 28 substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the table leg 16 so that the extension can be fixedly inserted with a press fit into the table leg. For accurate positioning of the table leg 16 relative to the connecting device 20 the profile body 22 also has, at the attachment root of the third extension 28, a suitable abutment 38. To reduce the overall weight of the connecting device 20 the third extension 28 for the table leg 16 is preferably in the form of a hollow profile, as shown in FIG. 7.

The second extension 28 extends a certain distance into the table leg so that the desired right angle between the table leg 16 and the frame members 14 is strengthened. That provides an enhanced level of stability in respect of shape of the article of table furniture 10 so that advantageously all components of the article of table furniture 10 can be of a lightweight construction. The length of the second extension 28 for the table leg 16 corresponds in this case to between about 150% and about 40%, preferably between about 20% and about 30%, of the length of a table length 16.

The first extension 24 which is provided integrally with the profile body 22, for the connection of a first frame member 14, is arranged coaxially with respect to the frame member 14. The outside diameter of the extension 24 substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the frame member 14 and the outside surface of the first extension can additionally be profiled or ribbed, as indicated in FIG. 6, so that the extension can be firmly inserted into the frame member 14 with a press fit. For accurate positioning of the frame member 14 relative to the connecting device 20 the profile body 22 further has a suitable abutment 34, at the attachment root of the first extension 24.

The first extension 24 also extends a certain distance into the frame member 14 in order to enhance the stability of the connection so as to achieve an enhanced level of stability in respect of shape of the overall article of table furniture 10. The length of the first extension 24 for the frame member 14 corresponds in this case to between about 10% and about 40%, preferably between about 15% and about 25%, of the length of a frame member 14.

The third extension 26 for connecting a second frame member 14 is oriented in coaxial relationship with that further frame member 14. In addition the third extension 26 is provided substantially perpendicularly to both the first extension 24 and also the second extension 28. The outside diameter of the third extension 26 substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the frame member 14 and the outside surface of the third extension can additionally be profiled or ribbed, as indicated in FIG. 9, so that the extension can be fixedly inserted with a press fit into the further frame member 14. For accurate positioning of the further frame member 14 relative to the connecting device 20 the third extension 26 has a peripherally extending abutment 36.

In addition the third extension 26, similarly to the first extension, extends a certain distance into the further frame member 14. The length of the third extension 26 for the frame member 14 corresponds in that case to between about 10% and about 40%, preferably between about 15% and about 25%, of the length of a frame member 14.

As already mentioned above the third extension 26 is preferably in the form of a separate component in relation to the profile body 22 and therefore has to be fixedly connected thereto. As shown in section VIII-VIII for that purpose the profile body 22 has two through bores 30 and the third extension 26 has at its front end two screwthreaded bores 32 which are arranged in mutually aligned relationship and into which two screws 44 are screwed.

For the purposes of better non-rotationally securing the third extension 26 for the further frame member 14 with respect to the profile body 22 the arrangement has a total of two screws 44. In addition the end of the third extension 26, in the region of the screwthreaded bores 32, has a respective projection 42 which is accommodated in a corresponding recess 40 in the outside wall of the profile body 22. The screw heads are also sunk in recesses 40 of that kind in the profile body 22.

In order to permit the extensions 34, 26, 28 to be more easily inserted into the frame members 14 and table legs 16 respectively, their distal ends are preferably of a conically tapering configuration. 

1. A connecting device for connecting a table leg to at least one frame member, wherein both the table leg and also the frame member are in the form of a hollow profile at least in the region adjoining the connecting device, comprising a profile body; a first extension which is connected to the profile body, which is coaxial with respect to a frame member, and whose outside diameter substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the frame member; and a second extension which is connected to the profile body, which is coaxial with respect to a table leg, and whose outside diameter substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the table leg.
 2. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second extension is provided substantially perpendicularly to the first extension.
 3. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first extension and the second extension are provided integrally with the profile body.
 4. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a third extension which is connected to the profile body, which is coaxial with respect to a further frame member and whose outside diameter substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the further frame member.
 5. A connecting device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the third extension is provided substantially perpendicularly to the first extension and to the second extension.
 6. A connecting device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the third extension is a component which is separate from the profile body and which is fixedly connected to the profile body.
 7. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the connecting device is made of a light material with a high level of stability in respect of shape.
 8. A connecting device as set forth in claim 7 wherein the connecting device is substantially made from magnesium or a magnesium alloy.
 9. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second extension is in the form of a hollow profile.
 10. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the length of the second extension corresponds to between about 15% and about 40%, preferably between about 20% and about 30%, of the length of a table leg.
 11. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the length of the first extension corresponds to between about 10% and about 40%, preferably between about 15% and about 25%, of a frame member.
 12. A connecting device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the length of the third extension corresponds to between about 10% and about 40%, preferably between about 15% and about 25%, of a frame member.
 13. A connecting device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the distal ends of the first, second and/or third extensions are of a conically tapering configuration.
 14. An article of table furniture comprising a tabletop; four frame members arranged at a right angle relative to each other for carrying the tabletop; four table legs which are respectively arranged in the corner regions of the tabletop between two adjoining frame members; and four connecting devices which respectively connect together a table leg and two adjoining frame members, wherein both the table legs and also the frame members are in the form of a hollow profile at least in the regions adjoining the connecting devices; and the connecting devices each comprise a profile body; a first extension which is connected to the profile body, which is coaxial with respect to a frame member, and whose outside diameter substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the frame member; and a second extension which is connected to the profile body, which is coaxial with respect to a table leg, and whose outside diameter substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the table leg.
 15. An article of table furniture as set forth in claim 14 wherein the connecting devices are each further provided with a third extension which is connected to the profile body, which is coaxial with respect to a further frame member and whose outside diameter substantially corresponds to the inside diameter of the hollow profile of the further frame member.
 16. An article of table furniture as set forth in claim 14 wherein at least two of the table legs are provided with rollers.
 17. An article of table furniture as set forth in claim 14 wherein two adjacent table legs at mutually remote sides of the article of table furniture are arranged outside the table top. 